why a beast would want a beauty (thoughts, reflections, and even a bit of apologetics)

My favorite fairy tale ever has to be Beauty and the Beast. (It would be the movie 'Gladiator' but for some reason I don't think that counts.) Along with Batman, I think it is one of the most retold stories of all times. Everyone wishes they had thought of it. (You see, with 'Gladiator,' everyone is too scared to try and retell it--it's just that incredible.)

Why? Why would this be such a luring fairy tale? Why do I still obsess over it? I don't obsess over 'The Little Mermaid,' 'Cinderella,' 'Sleeping Beauty,' or 'Snow White' anymore. But hardly a day goes by with my mind turning to look at Belle and the Beast. Really, why?

Here's what I think: 'Beauty and the Beast' shows something about us--about humans--that we don't see in many other stories. It portrays each character as imperfect. The beast is suffering, and rightly so, for what he's done wrong. He is about as gentle as a screaming two-year-old (in other words, not). Underneath all of this, though, he wants redemption. He longs for a better life. Belle is willing to save her father by living forever with the beast, but she's flawed, too. She disobeys a clear order from her new master. She flees from the Beast even after she's promised to stay. The Beast, in a profound act of self-sacrifice, nearly dies from fighting off the wolves. He pays the price that Belle would have had to pay for her disobedience. Their lives grow happier, and Belle brings the Beast an unexpected happiness. But, even after all of this, the Beast decides to release her from her promise and let her return to her father--another act of selflessness. Belle could have been done with the hideous monster, but instead she gives him something he never really thought he would receive: love. She loves him. When everyone else is fighting and hating him, Belle comes back and stands by his side. Before I talk about what I think this means for us, for me, let me tell you why this shouldn't mean anything, given a certain perspective.

Yes. You all probably know that I'm a big fan of finding compelling evidence for God inside the mind and hearts of people. I haven't changed since the last time I told you that.

You see, if we really did evolve, there's a great deal of questions we need to ask about love. Firstly, why do we ladies envision a perfect hero, a hero that matches so perfect a standard that nobody (but a God Who, according to evolution, doesn't really exist) can hope to attain it? Why do girls sit and day-dream about heroes? Why do we have romance stories in which the guy is so perfect, so heroic? Why am I even obsessed with stories of heroes like 'Gladiator,' 'Batman,' or 'Beauty and the Beast?' Why do we have stories of perfect women, who have no flaw in body or mind or spirit? Why have men, past and present, dreamt up stories of women of unsurpassable beauty? I just can't see how these ideals would help our race survive: nobody can reach them. We're setting each other up for failure and, ultimately, for dissatisfaction with life (which, we're told, is the only end we have, so what sense would it make for us to be dissatisfied with the only thing that we're made for?). Why would a beast want a beauty?

The wolves that tried to devour Belle didn't, as far as I know, have any ideals as far as hubbies and wives were concerned. It was pretty simple: have kids. Bite back if you need to. Don't hold a grudge that will prevent you from having more kids or from eating more food. But obviously humans don't work like that. We hold grudges. We would starve for perfection. Some even shut themselves off from a world that has disappointed their high standards.

And let's pretend that this pursuit of perfection in other people actually made sense. Not that is does, but do let's have fun. Let us suppose that this pursuit of perfection suddenly came into being in humans so that they would be driven to find the best 'mate.' This pursuit of perfection would be amazing, to be sure: it would drive each to find the best mate and to be the best mate so as to avoid criticism. Grace wouldn't exist. Why should it, anyway? The only thing it would do is hinder the pursuit of perfection. It would hinder the survival of the fittest. It would make people soft, forgiving and--heaven (if it existed) forbid--charitable. Oh, that word. Charitable. Imagine what would happen if people did that--they would ultimately forfeit their survival, which just doesn't do. A beauty would want a beast. That's the most unlikely route of love possible.

But that's what happened in 'Beauty and the Beast,' and that's what's happened in many relationships across time. People choose to love others, not because they are flawed, but because they are people. They, though they have standards of perfection so high and so lofty, forgive. They choose to speak softly. And--oh, heaven forbid--they choose to be charitable. And charitable love is the most beautiful of all. I never particularly liked quoting myself, but I'm going to quote something one of my characters said in a book I'm writing (I believe he was totally the one who said it, because I honestly don't know where this thought came from):

'Love is not a mere feeling. Feelings can be a very pleasant piece of it, to be sure, but that's not the core of love. Love is a commitment—a commitment to constant action, despite what the other person may do. Love cannot be doused by trials or troubles. It doesn't die. It grows—like a tree. Trees have droughts when their growth is painful and slow and sometimes the unneeded branches must fall off, but the growth never stops.'

Everyone say thank you to Soturi. He's a smart man and a very good character, even though he can be a bit difficult and even a bit mean at times. Everyone say shape up to Soturi. Yet regardless of his unique personality, I think he explains what happens when people love each other for reasons not entirely comprehensible.

So this obviously doesn't make sense in the evolutionist mindset. But given a God--given the God of the Bible--it makes sense. If there was a God who was and is willing to write a story in which He needs to sacrifice Himself, it makes sense. If there was a God who loves us no matter how ugly and dirty and selfish and hypocritical and utterly depraved we are, then it makes sense. If this God made us in His own image, then it makes sense. Pursuit of perfection makes sense. Forgiveness of imperfection makes sense. 'Beauty and the Beast' does not seem so far fetched after all. A beast would want a beauty, and a beauty would want a beast.

And this tale is, quite literally, as old as time and as true as it could be.



Let not ye think that I am throwing out total depravity. I'm not. I'm just saying that, while our image of God is totally disfigured, if you look hard enough you can still see its origin.

God bless you, dear reader.
Live on 'Beauty and the Beast.'
Love,
Rose